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Just like finding ten quid in the back-pocket of your favourite jeans, a new series of Gavin & Stacey is one of those welcome surprises that only comes around once in a while. The fact that this returned onto our TV screens with very minimal fanfare is a moot point as either way it is back.
When we last met them, only a year ago if you can believe it, Gavin (Mathew Horne) was planning to move to Stacey’s (Joanna Page) hometown of Barry, Wales which was met by much umbrage from both his mother (Alison Steadman) and best friend Smithy (James Corden). The first episode of the new series picks up straight where the Christmas special left off with Gavin starting his new job. This was then immediately accompanied by a barrage of well-wishing phone calls from all his family and friends, including an appearance from his uncle-in-law Bryn (Rob Brydon) who knocked at the office-window brandishing a bunch of sandwiches. Alongside this development is the impending christening of Smithy and Nessa’s (Ruth Jones) baby.
In keeping with the previous episodes the series really belongs to Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon who between them share the vast majority of the laugh-out-loud moments. With both actors being on top form it was also great to see the inclusion of the mouthy elderly neighbour Doris whose tirade about salads at a buffet rests as a personal highlight. Also, Bryn’s solo number during the christening, where he takes his role of godfather a little too seriously, deserves an equal mention. Bless him.
It is great to see that after the failures that were Lesbian Vampire Killers and Horne & Corden that Gavin & Stacey returns as fresh as ever and possibly even more polished than previous offerings. Part of this may also be due to some decreased screen-time for James Corden’s character of Smithy who, in my opinion, has prevented this from progressing beyond being a great series to a classic. There is no doubt that he is a capable writer, which this series stands as a testament to, but as a performer he is clearly the weak link with some cringingly bad moments. So let us hope that this reduced role continues. However, if the end of the episode is anything to go by this will sadly not be the case.
In any event this is a very strong opener for one of Britain’s best current comedies and promises a fantastic forthcoming series.
Series Three of Gavin & Stacey is now being broadcast on BBC1 at 9pm and is available on BBC iPlayer for the next month after being shown.
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